Pay-off reel for wire and the like



Aug 30, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1965 INVENTOR.

C'LARENCE I. STEINBACK ATTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1966 c. l. STEINBACK PAY-OFFREEL FOR WIRE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1965 m r [f r 4 Sheets-Sheet 273 1a 24 7 FIG. 4 B

INVENTOR.

Omnzncs I, Srzmucn A TTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1966 Filed Jan. 6, 1965 FIG. I

C. I. STEINBACK' PAY-OFF REEL FOR WIRE AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 52223 /Z 54 52 x 4 I I 72 V f 2i C'LARENCE I. STA-muck INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1966 I c. l. STEINBACK v PAY-0P? REEL FOR IIRE ANDTHE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1965 n 3 m JW T 3,269,672PAY-OFF REEL I OR WIRE AND THE LIKE Clarence I. Steinback, Minneapolis,Minn., assignor to Acromctul Products, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., acorporation of Minnesota Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,749

10 Claims. (Cl. 242-428) My invention relates generally to wire handlingmachines, and more particularly to improvements in selfpowered wirepay-off devices such as are commonly used by consumers in unwinding wirebundles.

Wire bundles under consideration comprise a plurality 4 United StatesPatent 3,269,672 Patented August 30, 1966 A further object of myinvention is the provision of a wire pay-off device which will pay offwire from bundles which have either clockwise or counterclockwise coilswound thereon.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a 1 device which issimple in construction, trouble-free in of coils which generally overlieeach other in an offcenter relationship with respect to the core uponwhich they are wound. Further, during winding of the bundle, the lengthof wire forming each coil is twisted to cause same to lie in a flatstate. In pay-off machines heretofore produced, such bundles are placedwithin a rotatable basket having associated therewith suitable wirereceiving and guiding means directing the wire to a capstan or drumdirectly connected to the basket to impart rotation thereto, the wire tobe payed out being entrained on the capstan and leading therefrom to apower-operated wire pulling source.

In machines of the character above described, only bundles having coilsequal in diameter to the diameter of the capstan 26 may be successfullyunwound. Any deviation, either larger or smaller, of coil diameter withrespect to capstan diameter, will result in contraction or expansion ofthe coil being removed therefrom. Contraction, of course, causes bindingof the coil on the core or spool which carries the bundle and eventualbreakage. while expansion results in entanglement of the coils withinthe basket. In either case, costly shutdown and repair occurs. Pay-offreels or devices heretofore produced have been woefully inadequate inpreventing such occurrences and in adapting to bundles of wire havingdifferent diameter coils therein.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a devicewhich includes means for varying the speed of rotation of the basket, on.which the bundle of wire is supported, with respect to the rotary speedof the capstan which imparts rotation thereto whereby to pay off wirefrom bundles wherein the coils of one thereof vary in diameter withrespect to the coils of other bundles.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pay-off device forwire bundles which will pay out the wire from said bundles in directproportion to the the needs of the wire pulling source, and withoutentanglement of the convolutions of coils due to over-riding movementsof the bundle-supporting basket during termin-ation of pay-off cycles.

It is still a'furthcr object of my invention to provide brake meanswhereby a minimum amount of slack is permitted betwen the capstan andsaid power-operated wirepulling source during starting and stoppingoperations thereof, thus minimizing tension applied on said wire duringinitiation of pay-out cycles.

Another object of my invention is the provision of adjustable means forvarying the tension required to release said brake means duringinitiation of pay-out cycles whereby to accommodate wire of variousgauges.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device whereinbraking forces exerted by said brake means are in inverse proportion tothe tension applied thereto by wire leaving said capstan, wherebymaximum braking force is not exerted prior to termination of awire-pulling cycle.

A further object of my invention is the provision of guide means forreceiving wire from a basket, said guide me as including a horizontallydisposed arm pivotally operation, and operable with but a minimum ofskill.

A further and highly important object of my invention is the provisionof a device wherein wire may be withdrawn from a bundle without damagethereto in spite of slight discrepancies in the diameters of the severalconvolutions thereof, and to this end, I initially withdraw the wireupwardly to overlying guide rollers in general alignment with theprojected axis of the bundle.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attacheddrawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a wire pay-off mechanism producedin accordance with this invention, portions thereof broken away andshown in section;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in horizontal section and partially in topplan as seen from the line 22 of FIG. 1, portions thereof broken away; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section as'seen generally fromthe line 3-3 of FIG. 2, portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG.3, portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section as seen from the.

line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG.1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 7--7 of FIG.3 on an enlarged scale; FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view in verticalsection as seen from the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9' is an enlarged view in elevation as seen from the line 9-9 ofFIG. 1, portions thereof broken away and shown in section;

' FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in top plan of a portion 7 of FIG. 1,portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view in vertical 'sec ion as seen I from the line1l--11 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 12, are diagrammatic views in perspective illustrating the methodof entraining wire on the capstan to pay off wire from wire bundleshaving either clockwise cup-like supporting platform 21 and a rotaryshaft 22 depending therefrom. Rotary shaft 22, as shown, is

journalled for rotation on a vertical axis which intersects thelongitudinal axis of base 11 in upper and lowerbearings 23, 24. Bearings23, 24 are shown as being secured to the upper wall 12 and brace member18 of base 11, respectively. A coiled bundle of wire A wound about aspool B is adapted to be received within thecupt like platform 21 andsupported thereon in axial alignment of the spool B therewith by meansof a centering bracket 25 rigidly mounted in the platform 21.

Mounted on the base 11 radially of the basket 20 for rotation on avertical axis which also intersects the longitudinal axis of the base 11is a capstan 26. Capstan 26 includes a drum or pulley 27 overlying thetop wall 12 and a depending shaft 28 which is journalled for rotation ina bearing 29 carried by the top wall 12 of base 11. Means for receivingwire a from the bundle A and guiding same to the drum or pulley 27 ofthe capstan 26 for passage therearound, for a reason which willhereinafter become apparent, is indicated generally by the numeral 30.Means 30 includes a vertically extending standard 31, the lower end ofwhich is secured to the rear wall 15 of base 11, as indicated at 32.Pivotally secured to the upper end of standard 31 by means of the hinges33 for pivotal movements about a vertical axis is a horizontallydisposed arm 34. Arm 34 is provided with guide rollers 35, each of whichis formed with a peripheral groove 36. A cross-sectionally U-shapedguide track 37 closely overlies the grooves 36 of all but the first ofthe guide rollers 35 and serves to guide one end of the wire a as it isbeing entrained or threaded through the grooves 36 of the rollers 35.Secured to the arm 34 intermediate the first and second guide rollers35a, 35b, is a pressure roller 3711 which serves to maintain wire abeing received from bundle A within the grooves 36 of guide rollers 35a,35b. As shown, roller 37a is mounted to the arm 34 for adjustmentstoward and away from the wire a within the grooves 36 of rollers 35a,35b, as indicated at 38, thus providing for passage of different gaugewire a passing through the grooves 36 and also exerting differentpressures required on the wire passing therethrough. As shown in FIG. 1,the rollers 35 are secured to the arm 34 in a semi-circular pattern withthe last guide roller 35c guiding the wire a toward a plurality of guiderollers 39. Rollers 39 are likewise mounted in a semi-circular patternon a vertically disposed mounting plate 40 which is pivotally carried asat 41 by the lower end portion of standard 31 for swinging movementsabout a vertical axis. Each of the guide rollers 39 is provided with aperipheral groove 42 with the groove of the lead or first roller 39areceiving wire a from the guide roller 35c, whereupon it is entrainedover the other guide rollers 39 and is finally directed toward thegroove 43 of the drum or pulley 27 of the capstan 26. Wire a receivedwithin the groove 43 of capstan 26 is looped thereabout and leadstherefrom to a source of pulling power such as a wire handling machine(not shown). As wire a is consumed or pulled by the above mentioned wirehandling machine, rotary movement is imparted thereby to the capstan 26.

Transmission means for imparting rotary movements to the basket 20,responsive to rotary movements of the capstan 26 as wire is being pulledtherefrom, is indicated generally by the numeral 44. Transmission 44includes a pulley 45 carried by the shaft 22 of basket 20, a secondpulley 46 secured to the lower end of the shaft 28 of capstan 26 and aflexible V-belt 47 entrained over the pulleys 45, 46.

In machines of the character above described, only bundles having coilsequal in diameter to the diameter of the capstan 26 may be unwound. Anydeviation, either larger or smaller, of coil diameter with respect tocapstan diameter, will result in contraction or expansion of the coilbeing removed therefrom. Contraction, of course, causes binding of thecoil on the core or spool which carries the bundle and eventualbreakage, while expansion results in entanglement of the coils withinthe basket. In either case, costly shutdown and repair curs. Pay-offreels or devices heretofore produced have been woefully inadequate inpreventing such occurrence and in adapting to bundles of wire havingdifferent coils therein.

Therefore, pulley 46 is in the nature of a variable diameter pulleyhaving a pair of axially disposed pulley sections 47, 48, each thereofcarried by shaft 28 forcommon rotation therewith and axial slidingmovements thereon. Pulley sections 47, 48 are biased toward each otherto provide a maximum pulley diameter by means of coiled compressionsprings 49, 50.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, capstan 26 is mounted on base 11for movements toward andaway from the basket 20. In the abovearrangement bearing 29 is mounted on a plate-like support 51, asindicated at 52, with the lower end of the bearing 29 and shaft 28,journalled therein, projecting downwardly through an elongated aperture53 formed in the top wall 12 of base 11. A pair of laterally spaced gibs54 are secured to the top 12 of base 11 and serve to guide the plate 51and parts associated therewith in their movements toward and.

away from the basket 20 longitudinally of the base 11.

Means for imparting such movement include a lever 55 pivotally securedat one end in laterally and forwardly spaced relationship to capstan 26,as at 56, to a bracket 57 carried by the side wall 14 of base 11. Lever55 extends through a slot formed in the wall 13 of base 11 andterminates in a nut 58 which has screw-threaded engagement with anadjustment screw 59 carried by the side wall 13, in such a manner as toimpart movements to the lever 55 toward and away from the basket 20 in ahorizontal plane. A link 60 pivotally connected at one end, as at 61, tothe intermediate portion of the lever 55 has its other end secured tothe plate 51 as at 63. Movement of the lever toward and away from thebasket 20 by means of the adjustment screw 59 results in like movementto the capstan26. When other bundles of wire having coils of a diameterdifferent from that shown are placed in the basket 20, the relativespeed of rotation of the basket with respect to the driving capstan mustbe changed to prevent either contraction or expansion of said coils.That is, if a bundle having coils with a larger diameter is placedthereon, the speed of rotation of basket 20 must be decreased withrespect to the speed of rotation of capstan 26, thus a linear amount ofwire equal to the circumference of the groove 43 of capstan pulley 27will be removed during each revolution thereof. To accomplish this endone merely adjusts the variable pulley 46 by moving same away from thepulley 45 through the medium of the lever 55, link 60, and adjustmentscrew 59. Such adjustment causes pulley sections 47, 48 to move apartagainst the bias of springs 49, 50,thereby reducing the effectivediameter of pulley 46 and resulting in a decrease in speed of rotationof basket 20 with respect to that of capstan 26. Alternately, ifsuchcoils are of a diameter smaller than that shown, the effectivediameter of pulley 46 must be increased by adjustment in the reverse ofthat above described.

For the purpose of paying out wire a from the bundle A in directproportion to the needs of the wire pulling source, without entanglementof the convolutions of coils due to overriding movements of the basket20 during deceleration or termination of the pay-0E cycle and tomaintain a minimum amount of slack between the capstan 26 andwire-pulling source, I provide adjustable means for retarding rotationof basket 20. Such means includes a bellcrank lever 65 secured to thebase 11 by means of the vertically spaced upper and lower bearings 66,67, respectively, and with the vertical axis of bell crank 65intersecting the longitudinal axis of base 11.

Secured to the laterally spaced outer end 68 of bellcrank lever65 forrotation on a vertical axis parallel to the vertical axis of bellcrank65 is a vertically disposed roller element 69. Disposed rearwardly ofthe shaft 22 of basket 20 and having one end pivotally secured to wall13 of base 11, as at 70, is a second lever 71. Connecting the other end72 of the bellcrank 65 to the inter.- mediate portion of the lever 71 isa link 73. Braking mechanism for retarding rotation of basket 20comprises a caliper-type hydraulic brake cylinder 74 secured to thecross brace 18 as indicated at 75 and operatively associated with adisc-like brake plate 76 fast on the shaft 22.

A master hydraulic cylinder 77 has connection with the caliper brakecylinder 74 through the medium of a fluid conduit 78 and is fixedlymounted to cross brace 17 of base 11 between lever 71 and rear walls 15of base 11.

A short adjustable piston rod 79 operatively connects the piston (notshown) of master cylinder 77 to lever 71. in closely spaced relationshipto the pivotal connec-" engagement with a nut 82.

It will be seen with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 that wire ais entrained over roller 69 as it leaves capstan 22. Under conditionswhere wire a is not being pulled from capstan 22, roller element 69 ispositioned with the axis thereof bisected by the projected plane of thelongitudinal'axis of base 11 under the bias of spring 80 and maximumbraking force is applied by cylinder 74 to disc 76. As a pulling cyclebegins, enough tension is applied to roller element 69 to move samelaterally about the axis of the bellcrank 65 against the bias of spring80 thereby gradually releasing braking pressure of cylinder '74 ondisc-76. If for any reason there is an interruption in the operation ofthe wire handling machine supplying the pulling force, tension on rollerelement 69 is reduced and consequently roller element 69 will movetoward a braking position, under the bias of spring 80, wherein the axisthereof is disposed within the projected plane of the longitudinal axisof base 11. Such movement causes a gradual braking force to be appliedto disc 76 until the axis of roller element 69 is within the projectedplane of base 11 whereupon maximum force is exerted. If it becomesnecessary to vary the tension required to .move the roller element 69,such as when a bundle having different gauge wire is mounted on thebasket 20, it is but necessary to vary the tension of spring 80 by meansof the adjustment nut 82.

It will be noted from the above description that braking forces whichare exerted are in inverse proportion to the tension applied to theroller element 69 by wire a leaving capstan 26. Thus, maximum brakingforce is not exerted prior to termination of a wire pulling cycle.

To assure that sufi'icient tension is applied to the roller element 69by wire 11 leaving capstan 26, there is provided the guide element 83.Guide element 83 is mounted by means of bracket 84 carried by base 11for adjustments transversely to the path of travel of wire a. Guideelement 83 includes a base 85 slidably mounted on bracket 84 and a pairof laterally spaced rollers 86, 87 mounted for rotation on vertical axeson the base 85. A horizontally disposed roller 88 is also rotatablycarried by "the base 85.near the upper end of rollers 86, 87, and

serves to maintain wire a bctween rollers 86, 87. As shown in FIG. 12 ofthe drawings, when wire a is wound clockwise on capstan 26 and fromthence entrained over roller 69 and thereafter passed through rollers86, 87

' below roller 88, the base 85 is moved to a position on bracket 84wherein wire a is in engagement with roller 86, and sufficient tensionis applied to roller 69, during pulling operations, to cause the arm ofbellcrank 65 carrying roller 69 to come into engagement with stop member89, completely releasing braking cylinder 74 and permitting freerotation of basket 20. As shown in FIG. 12a when wire a is woundcounterclockwise on capstan 26, base 85 is adjusted to a positionwherein wire a eugages roller 87 and assures sufiicient tension beingexcrted on roller 69 to cause the arm carrying same to come intoengagement with stop 90 and again in this case pervided a strike. plate91 To permit the insertion or removal of a bundle A from the basket 20,it will benoted that horizontal arm 34, pivotally secured to standard 31by hinges 33, is movable from' an operative position overlying basket 20to an inoperative position laterally of theflvertically err-- arm 34 isin such operative position.

mitting free rotation of basket 20 during pulling operatious.

. It will also be noted that mounting plate is pivotally secured tostandard 31 for movements to positions wherein wire a may be directed toeither side of shaft 22 depending on whether such wire passes aroundcapstan 26 either clockwise or counterclockwise. Further, plate 40 hasmounted thereon a pressure roller 94 which, like roller 37a, maintainswire a in the grooves 42 of rollers 39 and together these pressurerollers 37a, 94 serve to maintain suflicient back pressure upon the whento maintain same in firm gripping contact with the capstan 26 at alltimes. v

*Finally, it should be pointed out that due to vibrations duringtransportation and the like, certain convolutions of a given bundle mayincrease or decrease slightly in diameter. with respect to the otherconvolutions thereof.

Normally, this fact would give rise to disorderly withp I drawal.However, I avoid this possibility by placing the guide rollersvertically of the basket 20 and bundle A supported thereon-so that thewire ra is withdrawn gerierally axially upwardly therefrom. Y

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while Ihave disclosed a' preferred embodiment thereof, same may well be capableof modification without departing from the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

'What is claimed is:

I 1. In a pay-ofi reel for wire or thelike,

,( a base, I I

(b) a capstan rotatably mounted on said base,

(c) a basket rotatably mounted on said base in radially spaced relationto said capstan and adapted to fixedly support a coiled bundle of wiresubstantially coaxial therewith,

(d) means for receiving and guiding said wire generally axially fromsaid basket and to said capstan for pas-' sage therearound, (e)independent transmission means connecting said basket to said capstanfor rotation therewith responsive tolineal passage of said wire aroundsaid capstan, 1 (f) means for varying the rate of rotation of saidbasket and bundle with respect to said capstan, and

(g) adjustable means for retarding rotation of said basket and bundleand operative responsive to tension of wire being pulled from saidbundle as same leaves said capstan. i

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the means for varying therotation of said basket with respect to said capstan comprises:

(a) a pulley operatively secured to said basket,

(b) a variable speed pulley operatively secured to saidthe other of saidsections, said last mentioned means oomprising:

(a) a lever pivotally secured at one end to said base,

(b) linkage connecting the intermediate portion of said lever to saidcapstan,

(c) it screw threaded element on the other end portion ot said lever,and

(d) a second screw threaded element carried by said base and havingthreaded engagement with said first mentioned element.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said last mentioned meanscomprises:

(a) a bellcrank lever pivotally secured on a vertical axis intermediateits ends to said base,

(b) a vertically disposed roller element secured to one end of saidbellcrank in radially outwardly spaced relation to said capstan andadapted to entrain there- I over wire leaving said capstan,

(c) a second lever,

(d) means pivotally securing one end of said second lever to said basein laterally'spaced relation to said bellcrank,

(e) linkage connecting the other end of said bellcrank to theintermediate portion of said second lever,

(f) braking mechanism associated with said basket,

(g) yielding means normally urging said braking mech' anisrn towardbraking engagement with respect to said basket,

(h) pressure applied to said roller element by wire en trained thereoverbeing pulled from said capstan imparting movements to said levers abouttheir respective axes to automatically release the braking action ofsaid braking mechanism upon said basket against the bias of saidyielding means.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in further combination with meansfor varying the pressure required to be exerted by said wire upon saidroller element to release said braking mechanism.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which said last mentioned meanscomprises an adjustment screw carried by the base in laterally spacedrelation to the other end of said second lever and a spring interposedbetweensaid adjustment screw and said other end of said second lever.

7. The structure defined in claim 4 in further combination with a guideelement for wire leaving said roller element, and means for adjustablymoving said guide element generally transversely of the path of travelof wire leaving said roller element.v 8. The structure defined in claim1 in which said first mentioned means comprises:

(a) a standard extending upwardly from said base in radially offsetrelation to said basket,

(b) a horizontally disposed arm pivotally secured at one end to theupper end of said standard for swinging movements of its other end froman operative position overlying said basket to an inoperative positionlaterally ofiset from .the vertically projected plane of said basket,

(c) a plurality of guide rollers mounted both on said arm and to thelower end of said standard and adapted to feed wire from a bundlesupported by said basket to said capstan, and

(d) means for positively locking said arm in its said operativeposition.

9. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said first mentioned meanscomprises a plurality of guide rollers in vertically spaced relationshipto said basket and adapted [to receive wire from a bundle supported bysaid basket generally axially thereof.

10. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with meansassociated with said guide rollers for retarding the passage of wireover said guide rollers whereby to maintain said wire in snug contactnot only with said guide rollers, but also with said capstan.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Examiner.

4/1955 Nelson 242-25 t

1. IN A PAY-OFF REEL FOR WIRE OR THE LIKE, (A) A BASE, (B) A CAPSTANROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, (C) A BASKET ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAIDBASE IN RADIALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID CAPSTAN AND ADAPTED TO FIXEDLYSUPPORT A COILED BUNDLE OF WIRE SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL THEREWITH, (D)MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND GUIDING SAID WIRE GENERALLY AXIALLY FROM SAIDBASKET AND TO SAID CAPSTAN FOR PASSAGE THEREAROUND, (E) INDEPENDENTTRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTING SAID BASKET TO SAID CAPSTAN FOR ROTATIONTHEREWITH RESPONSIVE TO LINEAL PASSAGE OF SAID WIRE AROUND SAID CAPSTAN,(F) MEANS FOR VARYING THE RATE OF ROTATION OF SAID BASKET AND BUNDLEWITH RESPECT TO SAID CAPSTAN, AND (G) ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR RETARDINGROTATION OF SAID BASKET AND BUNDLE AND OPERATIVE RESPONSIVE TO TENSIONOF WIRE BEING PULLED FROM SAID BUNDLE AS SAME LEAVES SAID CAPSTAN.